New website help

[OtterBliss]

I have just closed my B&M shop and I am now running it from home, people can come but would like a website to go with it.

To start I need to get a domain name, where would the best place be, as I assume Magento etc don't do it.

I have looked at a few like Magento Go (the one i was going to use) and shopify. I need one which is easy to use and understand and can grow, upgrade.

The other thing is, I have a problem with my Google account from the last website I had.
I am thinking the easiest option would be to cancel my Google account completely and start again with a new. I tend to get a bit worried when things say "if you do this, this happens", that is usually when I stuff things up and end up getting in more of a mess. If I do cancel I lose everything, but as far as I know only have an email, which I don't use as I have problems getting past the log in stage . Does anyone know if I cancel I can open a new one.

Thank you

 

[easidoo]

@OtterBliss here's what you would need to setup your online shop -

1. Domain name: 123-reg [dot] com
2. hosting space: for a startup to test the water first, go with shared hosting from justhost [dot] com or bluehost [dot] com
3. e-commerce software: shared hosting comes with one click magento community edition install.

If you would rather keep it simple and have everything from one supplier as a fully-managed solution then have a look at volusion [dot] com or shopify [dot] com

Regarding your google account, there is a backup function that google offers. You'll have to find your way around the settings to backup your data from emails, calendar, drive,... in a zip file. I had a similar situation to migrate from one google apps account to another and I called google helpdesk who were super good in talking me through the process step by step.

 

[antropy]

To start I need to get a domain name, where would the best place be

www.dynadot.com are good.

 

[webhostuk]

Magento is good Ecommerce application to host your product. If you need assistance with hosting we offer specialize ecommerce hosting package you can check them.

 

[fisicx]

You are leaping in too deep too fast.

Getting the domain name is the easy part, I use 123reg.co.uk because I like their contol panel. But you then need hosting. Depending on the type of store you want you may well need a dedicated server at 1000/year or you might be able to get away with some shared hosting at £50/year.

So before you start thinking about the type of platform you need, do some planning. Sort out how many products and your target customer. Think about your marketing plan, fulfillment methods, storage, couriers, insurance and everything else before tallking to developers about the actual website.

 

[OtterBliss]

Thank you for your replies.
I had a website for the gift side of my business which I changed over to EKM, who were extremely helpful and of course got full templates.
I didn't have many sales or views and it was costing me a lot,especially after they put the prices up. I wasn't sure if the problem was because I couldn't get into my Google account so couldn't do ads and stuff.
When I changed to EKM, having not succeeded uploading products to Google from the original website, so didn't use, it said account suspended due to violation. I did manage to get into webmaster tools but even that didn't last long and I don't know what I did wrong. I think I might end up phoning them, they have a number for London I think.

At the same time as I posted on here, I signed up for a 30 day free trial with Magento Go thinking it would be the same as EKM. So picked a template only to find it was literally a blank canvas. I found the tutorials useful but I don't have anything to put on it, don't mean stock.

 

[Chris Fickling Design]

123-reg will be nowhere good enough to host a Magento site. Look at Nublue - they're on these forums. If you're after a quote for Magento development I'd be happy to oblige. Magneto and any e-commerce platform can be overwhelming at first but if you are determined to do it yourself Magento Go is your best bet. As for the google situation - try and collect together all the information you have so you're ready to talk to them - it might be something simple that you've overlooked and they use the 'violated' word to cover a multitude of things.

 

[wayzgoose]

I hadn't used my Google account for a while and when I logged in I had the same message. It turned out to be that I hadn't returned an email agreeing to new terms so it was quickly sorted.

 

[OtterBliss]

Thank you. Will give Google a call on Monday.

Have just gone to log into Magento Go and it is closing 1st Feb 2015??!!

 

[OtterBliss]

Thank you again for your help.

I am not going with Magento Go now as doesn't seem much point in having to go through it all again in 6 months time.

Had a play with EKM but not workable for what I am doing, they would need to go through 3/4 categories before they got to where they wanted to go, not good.

Had a look at Volusion and the way they have sub categories is much more workable. Had a look through their free templates and also looking at one of the £95 ones which would be ideal.

Hopefully will have a new website soon and be back in business.

 

[fisicx]

You are still jumping ahead of yourself. The actual platrom is irrelevant, untill you know the who, what, where and how of the online business you won't know whuich platorm is best suited.

For example, if your marketing is going to be primairly PPC advertising then you will need a different type of site to one where your visitors arrive via an internat search. You may need a platfrom that works better on a tablet than a laptop or you might not even need a website if you decide to sell on ebay/amazon/etsy/google shopping etc.

 

[OtterBliss]

Hi fisicx,
I have read both your posts, I know where you are coming from and understand your concerns.

I know my products, been selling them in B&M shop for 2 years, so I know who I am selling to and where. How, hopefully wont need PPC. I already have a shop on Etsy, currently not interested in Ebay or Amazon. I have a Facebook page and also in various groups, I also plan to get onto my suppliers stockists lists.

I live on a farm so have a large barn (all planning enquiries sorted), where there are 3 of us. Currently use RM and My Hermes, will look at other options when it grows. The B&M shop insurance renewal is due soon so will speak to them about it.

If I have misunderstood anything or missed something out, any input, constructive criticism greatly appreciated as I really want and need this to work and it is going to be hard enough with the competition as it is.

Thank you.

 

[fisicx]

So if you are already selling on etsy why do you want to spend enormous amounts of money setting up and marketing a website?

You will need to use PPC as it could take a long time to build up your ranking and even then that still doesn't mean people will use your site over all the alternative.

Not suggesting it's not going to work but you need to realise it can take up to 3 years to get an ecommerce site fully established and making a profit.

 

[OtterBliss]

I have only had the Etsy shop since December. I have had a few sales but I sell supplies which is probably only a small part compared to the handmade and vintage side. It is also an American site, although they are trying to push it more over here. The shops on there, I haven't found one with more than 200 items, there may be some. The amount of items I have would be nearer 1000 and although I do post worldwide, my customers would be in the UK. I do realise it takes a while to build any business